Esther 2

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Esther Chapter 2

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Mordecai

Date Penned: (470 BC)

Overview: God's Sovereignty and Power Through Esther's Life (c 1-10)

Theme: Esther Becomes Queen (c 1-2)

Message: The King Chooses Esther (1-23)

Esther 2 Commentary

(2:1) The King Remembers Vashti - The phrase "he remembered Vashti" may mean that the king began to miss his queen and what she had done for him. But he also remembered that in his anger he had banished her from his presence with a decree that couldn't be rescinded.

(2:3) The Harem - Persian kings collected not only vast amounts of jewelry but also great numbers of women. These young virgins were taken from their homes and were required to live in a separate building near the palace called a harem. Their sole purpose was to serve the king and to await his call for sexual pleasure. They rarely saw the king, and their lives were restricted and boring. If rejected, Esther would be one of many girls the king had seen once and forgotten. But Esther's presence and beauty pleased the king enough that he crowned her queen in place of Vashti. The queen held a more influential position than a concubine, and she was given more freedom and authority than the others in the harem. But even as queen, Esther had few rights- especially because she had been chosen to replace a woman who had become too assertive for the king's liking.

(2:5-6) The Jews Continue to Be Blessed - Mordecai was a Jew. The Jewish population had increased since their exile over 100 years earlier. They had been given great freedom and were allowed to run their own businesses and hold positions in government (2:19; Daniel 6;3).

(2:6) Mordecai's Family captivity - The Bible says that Mordecai's family had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. If this referred to Mordecai himself, he would have been over 100 years old at the time of this story. Most likely this means that Mordecai's grandparents or great-grandparents had been carried into captivity rather than Mordecai himself.

(2:8-9) Esther Seeks Wisdom - Hegai the eunuch's special care for Esther was a great gift to her. What about Esther impressed Hegai? She showed wisdom and accepted his advice. Because of Esther's wise choices, a connection was made. When you are placed in a job or role not of your choosing, seek out those who can help you, show them respect, and see how God can work through them.

(2:10) Esther Conceals Her Identity - With virtually no rights and little access to the king, it was better for Esther not to reveal her identity. While boldness in stating our identity as God's people is our responsibility, at times a good strategy is to keep quiet until we have won the right to be heard. This is especially true when dealing with those in authority over us. But we can always let them see the difference God makes in our lives.

(2:16-17) The King Chooses Esther - Esther must have made quite an impression. Many beautiful women were available to please the king, but he chose Esther. Her beauty must have come with something more. While many young girls want to be princesses, it is important to teach them that a life devoted to God and care for others are essential beauty traits to strive for.

(2:17) God's Hand in Esther's Life - God placed Esther on the throne even before the Jews faced the possibility of complete destruction (3:5-15) so that when trouble came a person would already be in the position to help. No human effort could thwart God's faithfulness to protect his chosen people and his plan to send the Messiah to earth as a Jew. If you are changing jobs, positions, or locations and don't immediately see God's purpose in your situation, understand that God is in control. He may be placing you in a position so you can help when the need arises.

Dave Burnette's Life Application

A Child of the King

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the Book of Esther with Chapter 2. In our text today we see the King chooses Esther to be his Queen. Her position is a result of the Kinsman redeemer Mordecai, her uncle, who took her in and raised her as her own when her parents died. In making application we have a kinsman redeemer who is Jesus-Christ. Who adopts us into the family of God once we call upon his name for salvation. Once in the family we are joint heirs with Christ having all the benefits as one who is born as a natural child. How about you? Are you saved? If so you have a kinsman redeemer who has adopted you into the family of God and you now are a joint Heirs of Jesus-Christ sharing all the benefits of being a child of the King.

Esther 2

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Esther 2

¹After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

²Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

³And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:

⁴And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

⁵Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

⁶Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

⁷And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

⁸So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

⁹And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

¹⁰Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.

¹¹And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

¹²Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

¹³Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.

¹⁴In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

¹⁵Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

¹⁶So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

¹⁷And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

¹⁸Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

¹⁹And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

²⁰Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

²¹In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.

²²And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.

²³And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

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